Therefore safety is always first at ComSpark. Each and every job is approached with a risk assessment. Depending on the size and scope of work, this could be a Take 5, JSA or full Safety Management plan. Either way, each and every job starts with safety and this attention to care is followed throughout the job.

Safety Management is a two fold approach, with ComSpark utilising the National Electrical and Communication Association (NECA) OH&S internet based NECA SAFE application for all safety documentation and reporting as well as online JSA and SWMS recording. ComSpark also has an extensive written safety management plan that is available to our clients on request.Fortnightly toolbox meetings are held to reinforce safety and OH&S matters and to highlight any NECA alerts that may have been distributed.

A properly licensed electrician will be aware of the minimum standards of safe work practices, safe installation and maintenance methods for satisfactory safety and technical outcomes for the community. These standards are to protect everyone.

Standards in general are:

A means by which regulatory outcomes can be satisfied. For example, the regulations may say as an outcome that safety must be achieved and the standards then develop and define what is safe in the particular context and how it may be achieved.

Industry based with broad stakeholder input, so they represent the industry practice that is followed to deliver the regulatory requirements.

Not a substitute for regulations. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) highlights the importance of not passing regulatory powers to standards writers.

Not a restriction to international trade. Wherever possible standards should be international and not contain local requirements at a cost to the community and make it harder to sell overseas.

Not an inhibition on innovation. Standards should set an outcome and not prescribe the solution. While prescription gives regulatory certainty, it is not flexible or able to accommodate technological development.

For electricity, some standards are mandatory – they have the force of law. However, most standards are advisory based on good industry practice that the community expects.

EnergySafety has a direct involvement in the major standards and, through membership of key committees of Standards Australia International (SAI), has input to all standards.

SAI produces the majority of electrical standards with most based on the International ElectroTechnical Commission (IEC). The Electricity Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) has significant input into the development of electricity supply industry standards.

The above are only the most common. Specific personnel hold a wide variety of specialist accreditations and training relating to particular organisations and situations eg government department panel contractors such as DET, working at heights, confined spaces, EWP.

Please call us on 08 6336 7210 if you have a particular requirement that we’ve not mentioned above.